SAN FRANCISCO -- For the first time this season, in an extrmely testy campaign in which they started 1-4 and head coach Mike Brown was fired, the 14-14 Los Angeles Lakers will shoot for a victory that would elevate their record to over the .500 mark.
But it's a task fraught with danger because the Lakers own a pedestrian 5-8 road record and they face the tough Nuggets today in Denver.
Thanks to Kobe Bryant's 34 points on Chrtistmas Day at Staples Center, the Lakers are coming off an impressive 100-94 triumph over Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks. They enter Denver on a five-game roll and two straight since 38-year old Steve Nash returned to the starting unit following a 24-game absence due to a lower left leg injury.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, were blasted by the Los Angeles Clippers also on Christmas Day -- 112-100. The Nuggets are a mere 15-14, no thanks to a punishing schedule that had put them away from home 20 times already this early in the season. They are however a solid 8-1 in their Pepsi Center home floor.
In only his second game from a 51-day absence, Nash was terrific, scoring 16 points and issuing 11 assists to help turn back New York. To beat the Nuggets in the high altitude air over there in Denver, Los Angeles will once again need a brilliant effort from the former two time league MVP. A stern defense will help, too. (RM)
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